The defence team for Jean Uwinkindi, a pastor currently held at the detention facility of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania, today (8 September 2011) filed its appeal brief against a first-instance Referral Chamber’s unprecedented – and highly controversial – decision to transfer his case to the High Court in Rwanda. Iain Edwards was appointed to Mr Uwinkindi’s defence very shortly after his arrest in Uganda in June 2010. The client is charged with genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity. The 39-page appeal brief advances 14 grounds of appeal and argues that Mr Uwinkindi would not receive a fair trial in Rwanda. The defence’s opposition to transfer is supported by international human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, and the International Criminal Defence Attorneys Association. No human rights organisation supports transfer. A decision on the appeal is expected before the end of the year.
